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Ferguson Demands High Fees To Turn Over City Files

WASHINGTON (AP) — Officials in Ferguson, Missouri, are charging nearly 10 times the cost of some of their own employees' salaries before they will agree to turn over files under public records laws about the fatal shooting of 18-year-old Michael Brown.The move discourages journalists and civil rights groups from investigating the shooting and its aftermath. And it follows dozens of records requests to Ferguson under the state's Sunshine Law, which can offer an unvarnished look into government activity.The city has demanded high fees to produce copies of records that, under Missouri law, it could give away free if it determined the material was in the public's interest to see. Instead, in some cases, the city has demanded high fees with little explanation or cost breakdown.In one case, it billed The Associated Press $135 an hour — for nearly a day's work — merely to retrieve a handful of email accounts since the shooting. That fee compares with an entry-level, hourly salary of $13.90 in the city clerk's office, and it didn't include costs to review the emails or release them. The AP has not paid for the search.

Re: Ferguson Demands High Fees To Turn Over City Files

Either that or they're trying to stem the inevitable tide of requests from every one of the thousands of internet "journalists" that will be making these requests. It's reasonable to believe that they would have to hire dozens (if not hundreds) of employees to meet all the likely requests and that the cost of doing so would cause the city to go broke in a heartbeat.

Normally I'd suggest that they simply put out a comprehensive informational packet and make it publicly downloadable but I suspect that in this particular case it wouldn't stem the tide of requests from conspiracy theorists anyway. The city is in a "no win" situation here and has to do what they can.

Now, if these news agencies really want the information it shouldn't be too hard for them to partner up on the requests, spread the cost among themselves, and make their own copies so that everyone gets what they want.

Re: Ferguson Demands High Fees To Turn Over City Files

Originally Posted by Lutherf

Either that or they're trying to stem the inevitable tide of requests from every one of the thousands of internet "journalists" that will be making these requests. It's reasonable to believe that they would have to hire dozens (if not hundreds) of employees to meet all the likely requests and that the cost of doing so would cause the city to go broke in a heartbeat.

Normally I'd suggest that they simply put out a comprehensive informational packet and make it publicly downloadable but I suspect that in this particular case it wouldn't stem the tide of requests from conspiracy theorists anyway. The city is in a "no win" situation here and has to do what they can.

Now, if these news agencies really want the information it shouldn't be too hard for them to partner up on the requests, spread the cost among themselves, and make their own copies so that everyone gets what they want.

There's always subpoenaing the records.

Semper Fidelis, Semper Liber.

I spit at lots of people through my computer screen. Not only does it "teach them a lesson" but it keeps the screen clean and shiny.

Re: Ferguson Demands High Fees To Turn Over City Files

Originally Posted by PirateMk1

There's always subpoenaing the records.

My understanding is that these are mostly FOIA requests. It's unlikely that the media are suing for the records and if they were the legal costs would make the cost of acquiring the records totally incidental.

Re: Ferguson Demands High Fees To Turn Over City Files

I like how, when it comes to things like public land, water and tax money, the right is all "It belongs to the people and the people paid for it so the people should be able to keep it and use it however they want" but when it comes to public records they get all "The govt of Ferguson should charge whatever they want. It's their records!"

Originally Posted by Mycroft

I don't have any issue with any investigation.

Originally Posted by jaeger19

the vast majority of folks that need healthcare are on Medicare.. both rich and poor..

Re: Ferguson Demands High Fees To Turn Over City Files

Originally Posted by sangha

I like how, when it comes to things like public land, water and tax money, the right is all "It belongs to the people and the people paid for it so the people should be able to keep it and use it however they want" but when it comes to public records they get all "The govt of Ferguson should charge whatever they want. It's their records!"

I doubt anyone would argue that they should charge whatever they want. The individuals in this thread seem to be explaining why this is a reasonable price, or asking what the normal price is for comparison.

The govt of Ferguson should charge whatever is reasonable <> The govt of Ferguson should charge whatever they want.